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| Matt Kolsky speaking at Sag-Aftra rally last year |
ALTHOUGH he made it clear he didn't think his pro-union speech at a Sag-Aftra -KNBR rally last year, was keynote in his firing, it certainly didn't help matters. In addition, Matt Kolsky's colleague, Joe Hughes, also involved in a pro-union video was also fired by KNBR late Friday.
Ryan Covay, an evening talk host and producer at KNBR with less tenure and vocal union talk, was not terminated.
Coincidence? Perhaps, you be the judge.
Friday was a telling day at KNBR. Cumulus' cash cow sports station --one of the few successful stations it runs in SF, was its usual self, only management was about to slash and dash two daytime hosts and put an end altogether to sports updates, which were nothing more than more commercials.
The first host to get the heave-ho was Joe Hughes which caught many staffers off guard, including Gary Radnich and Larry Krueger; Hughes was their own update guy and took part in their morning show. Beyond that, Hughes's dad was friends with station Opps Mgr, Lee Hammer and his job seemed safe. Only, Hammer wasn't directly involved with Hughes's ouster. Cumulus' SF VP and Market manager, Justin Wittmayer, 86ed both Hughes and Kolsky.
The firings weren't that shocking and their unlucky recipients didn't involve anybody even remotely "special" at KNBR but they did surprise staff inside the building and almost immediately, rumors hit that more layoffs perhaps involving even "star" personnel were on the horizon. KNBR is still rocking and rolling for the most part in its key demographic constituency: adult males between 18 and 49 who love sports, beer, and boobs. In addition, its own cash cow, the SF Giants baseball games were just around the corner and that's where KNBR makes the bulk of its money.
Yet, the dual canning exposed the non-harmonious atmosphere inside the studios where the hungry, ambitious "little people"; those producers, occasional hosts and go-to guys who do all the heavy lifting and coordinate a lot of the station's weaponry; a station that took in over $20 million in revenue the past few years, weren't immune from being axed by the notorious cloud company from Atlanta.
Welcome to the real world.
It's not a pretty picture at the Cloud Company SF Cluster.
How does one look in the mirror and admit they got fired from a $12 an hour job?
ReplyDeleteHow does one look at a future employer and admit they got fired from a RADIO job...at $12 per hour.
Time for the man-boys to get real jobs, and real respect.
So radio jobs and all who work them are jokes? I'd agree: the opps mgs, vp's of clusters, pd's, and, especially "talent" are just that. As much as the other little people. Do you think any have "real jobs" or "real respect"?
DeleteRyan Covey should be next.
ReplyDeleteThe reason? Well he can't speak a word of English.
I can't understand one word that comes out of that Vato's mouth.
He is juiced on a cool cat persona.
I have no problem understanding Ryan Covey. Not sure what 12:16 is talking about.
DeleteIs that the guy in the evenings that acts like he's Eminem? Word.
Deletecovay is passionate but i know every word he's going to say before he says it.
DeleteThere's no question Covay avoided the ax by sucking corporate. He is, as on air host, much less professional than Kolsky- in intelligence and voice quality to name a few.
DeleteOne of my theory's: When Kate Scott left? Cumulus felt now was the time to just get rid of the pre commercial announcers. With Kate the publicity would have been very bad to fire her,another lawsuit over gender was possible.
ReplyDeleteSO now with that risk gone,firing two white guys with a decade each of being at KNBR seemed safe. Hence Wittmayer acted. Wittmayer was also salivating over letting go two union mouthpieces with no repercussions.
So far.
Just further proof the radio business is Dead On Arrival as Howard Cosell proclaimed when announcing the assassination of John Lennon on Monday Night Football
ReplyDeleteI liked Joe Hughes--likable guy, good voice and manner. Good sense of humor.
ReplyDeleteKolsky, on the other hand, is an obnoxious know it all. Lately, have been switching channels whenever I heard his voice.
Just read a three page letter on Kolsky's Twitter about his firing. What a self-serving prick!
ReplyDeleteWait! Using facebook as a means for self aggrandizement? Nooo, who would use it for that???
DeleteHopefully, Murphy and Mac won't be far behind. Their act is tired.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Never listen. Same with Lund and the guy who works Sportsphone with Arthur Chavez (Ray). He sounds like he belongs on "Yo, MTV Raps".
DeleteDo you really think Larry Baer will let Murphy go? He's the biggest Giants promoter and is on the Junior Giants and Community board, I believe.
DeleteYeah. I see your point. Murphy is such a kiss ass. He loves to mention Junior Giants board every chance te gets
DeleteWait a minute,Gary Radnich just tweeted...lets see, ahem,"From the bottom of my heart- MORE FO ME,TURKEY!"
ReplyDeleteBut my daddy is friends with the boss... Oh boo hoo you little entitled shit. Welcome to the real world. Now go find a real job.
ReplyDeleteWait, I love sports beer and boobs, but LOATHE KNBR.
ReplyDeleteGo figure.
Take Covay and Lund too. Please! Bring back Ratto with Tolbert.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. And take Fitzgerald too.
DeleteKate Scott left? Shows you much I listen to this POS station. If there is a God, Amy G. will be next. Bet everyone on the KNBR payroll is part of Hammer's good ole boy network.
ReplyDeleteRich, just because you don't know these people do not refer to them as no one "special." Matt Kolsky is as talented as any of the people we have on air, and just because he's not a full-time on-air host doesn't mean he's not great at what he does. We had Ray Ratto on for over a year!
ReplyDeleteDidnt care for Kolsky at all, but Joe Hughes was a likeable guy.
ReplyDeleteI dont like Ray anymore either, his show turned into his own personal diatribes about himself and not sports topics. He isn't funny enough to pull that off.
Agreed. I did not mind Hughes at all. Kolsky, somehow, was worse than Kate Scott. And I could not stand Kate Scott...
DeleteKolsky is the definition of nobody special. But in all fairness so is Fatnich
ReplyDeleteWhy are the stupid updates still on this morning? Bring back Joe--and, throw M/M a crying towel.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear this. Joe Hughes was a huge upgrade to Kate Scott and was good with Larry and Gary. As for Kolsky, who are Bob and Rob going to mock and denigrate now that they've lost their whipping boy?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion this is addition by subtraction as far as on air entertainment goes. Hate to see people lose their jobs and they might be great dudes in their own right but did nothing to improve the quality of the shows they produce. Too many of these guys went to the Dan "The Man" Levitan school of radio and I too find myself switching stations when some of these guys come on. Only exception over the many years, one guy stands out - PCon has chops and I hope he progresses and gets a slot one day
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAgree with most opinions here and have to add PConn.... don't want to be nasty but liked Barstow Hughes, but Woodsen is just a silver Spooner who couldn't follow in his LA Dad''s footsteps so he spews bitterness at LA, and OMG that white trash PConn..... it is embarrassing to hear this clown act like he knows about anything and brag about anything.... not sure how he sticks around but I just take my biz elsewhere when he's on. Lund is sad too, but whatever. I'm so indifferent and don't care. Just don't buy the things they sell and go listen to The Game.
ReplyDeleteIf M/M are so sad they could give back some of their salary..... they're making half a million just to do nothing....
ReplyDeleteKolsky Tweeted some vent on what gets to stay at KNBR in so many words.
ReplyDeleteHughes must still be in shock.
I thought Kolsky had real talent- a fast thinker who had solid answers to the Radnich world view. Plus- as if this matters anymore- had a good radio voice. Clear.